Planning Board Minutes for Dec. 4, 2013

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Steve Hamilton. In addition to the chairman, members Stacy Glover, Dave Jakway, Laura Lewandowski, and Ann Sweet were present. Absent were Mark Smith and Kevin Wheeler. Mark Paquette represented the selectmen.

Chairman Hamilton appointed Ms. Glover to substitute for Mark Smith.

A motion (Lewandowski/Glover) to approve the minutes of the meeting of November 6, 2013, passed without dissent.

Review of the proposed changes to the Community Planning Ordinance as presented in the format for the town election ballot in preparation for the required hearing at 7 p.m. on December 19All of the 9 items discussed at the last two meetings were reviewed and discussed, one by one.

One change was made to the item labeled #7 by adding a semi colon at the end of the sentence and the words “the permit is not transferable.”

One change was made to the item labeled #9: remove “and” following the word “occupancy.”

After considerable discussion of the item labeled #10, primarily concerned about the town’s liability should it declare a dwelling “safe” if it turned out the building was not safe. A motion (Jakway/Lewandowski) to table the proposed addition of an Occupancy Permit to the CPO until a meeting of selectmen and planning board with legal consideration of any language agreed upon could be held passed without dissent.

A motion (Jakway/Lewandowski) to approve the other 8 items as amended passed without dissent.

The December 19 hearing will also devote time to the proposed changes to the Driveway Regulations:

Article IV.7. eliminate "cut" so that the last section of the sentence reads: "no driveway shall be constructed closer than 20 feet from abutting property lines and easements.

Article IV. 14. change and expand the last sentence to read: If the apron is not paved within one year from the date the permit was approved and house construction is not complete, application (prior to the date of expiration) to the planning board may be made for an extension of time. Failure to comply will result in escrow being used for paving the apron by the town. An inspection by the driveway committee is required both before and after paving is completed.

Ms. Glover asked what should be done about driveways that do not have escrow holdings but have not been completed in a timely manner.

Following announcements of upcoming meetings (a town discussion of policing alternatives on Dec. 17 at 6:30 p.m.; a meeting to consider on December 18 at 7 p.m. the Antis request for a rehearing of the ZBA decision of October 17; and the planning board hearing of December 19 at 7 p.m. on proposed CPO and driveway regulation hearings), a motion (Jakway/Lewandowski? to adjourn the meeting passed without dissent at 8:50 p.m.